What was Arms act? And how it is connected to Vernacular Press act?

Dear Student,

The colonial government, under Lord Lytton, brought into existence the Indian Arms Act, 1878; an act which exempted Europeans and ensured that no Indian could possess a weapon of any description unless the British masters considered him a "loyal" subject of the British Empire.

The Vernacular Press Act, 1878 was a highly controversial measure repressing the freedom of vernacular press. The viceroy Lord Lytton strongly denounced newspapers published in the vernacular languages as "mischievous scribblers preaching open sedition".

Both these acts, as previously stated were passed by Lord Lytton, the Viceroy of India from 1874-1880.

Regards